bemoeilijk

Bemoeilijk is a Dutch verb meaning to hinder or to make something more difficult or complicated. It is used to describe actions or conditions that add obstacles, slow progress, or create extra difficulties in a process, decision, or operation.

Etymology and form: the verb is formed with the prefix be- attached to moeilijk (difficult). The basic sense is to cause something to be more difficult for someone or something else. The standard participle form is bemoeilijkt, as in "Het proces is bemoeilijkt door vertragingen." The verb is commonly used in both formal and informal Dutch to describe bureaucratic, logistical, or practical impediments.

Usage and examples: bemoeilijken typically takes a direct object that is affected by the hindrance. Examples include: "Nieuwe regels bemoeilijken de uitvoering van het project," meaning the new rules complicate the implementation of the project; "Vertraging bemoeilijkt het bereiken van de planning," meaning delays hinder the schedule. In reporting or analysis, the term helps convey that a factor has made an initiative harder to complete.

Related terms: synonyms include hinderen, compliceren, en belemmeren. The non-verb form bemoeilijk is rare and mainly appears in dialect or as an adjectival form in some contexts; standard Dutch usually uses bemoeilijkt or bemoeilijken depending on tense and voice.

See also: hinderen, compliceren, belemmeren, moeilijk.